Substrate
Concrete, screed, tile, board and other bases have different strength, movement, joint, moisture and preparation requirements. Suitability should not be assumed from appearance alone.
Microcement Brisbane
Microcement finishes planned as a complete surface system
Microcement is a thin decorative cementitious finish applied as part of a layered system. A suitable result depends on the substrate, movement, preparation, primers or reinforcement specified by the system, finish coats, protective topcoat and how the surface will be used.
Dynamic Concrete Solutions installs microcement finishes for selected Brisbane residential and commercial floors, walls and built elements after the proposed substrate and location have been assessed.
Feasibility
What should be assessed before a finish is selected
Movement and defects
Cracks, loose tiles, drummy areas, flexible joints and structural movement can reflect through a thin finish unless the cause and system response are addressed.
Wet-area build-up
A decorative microcement finish must not be treated as an automatic substitute for the waterproofing, falls, junctions and penetrations required for the project.
Texture and use
Foot traffic, footwear, cleaning, expected spills, wet exposure and any specified slip classification should guide the surface and topcoat selection.
Colour and variation
Hand-applied movement, shade and trowel variation form part of the finish. Samples indicate a direction but do not make every wall or floor identical.
Edges and programme
Doors, drains, thresholds, fixtures, stairs, other trades, curing stages and return-to-service restrictions affect the build-up and schedule.
System scope
Record every layer and responsibility
- Areas, substrate and existing finishes included
- Testing, repairs and preparation assumptions
- Primer, reinforcement and base-coat requirements
- Colour, texture, sample and acceptable variation
- Topcoat, sheen and product limitations
- Waterproofing and movement-joint responsibilities
- Protection, curing, access and handover
- Cleaning and maintenance documents
Wet-area boundary
Decorative water resistance is not the whole waterproofing design
The National Construction Code sets location-specific wet-area requirements for floors, walls, junctions and penetrations. Whether a surface must be waterproof or water resistant depends on the building and location.
The responsible project team should identify the applicable requirements, the waterproofing system and who owns each layer before microcement is specified over a wet area. Product documents should also confirm substrate, preparation, application and maintenance limits.
Microcement FAQs
Questions to resolve before application
Can microcement go over existing tiles?
Potentially, if the tiles, adhesive and substrate are sound and the selected system supports that application. Loose or moving areas, joints and levels need assessment first.
Is microcement automatically waterproof?
No blanket claim is appropriate. Wet areas need a compliant project-specific waterproofing design, and the decorative system and topcoat must be selected and installed within their documented limits.
Will it hide every crack?
No. A thin finish can reflect substrate movement. Cracks and joints should be assessed, with structural or ongoing movement referred to the appropriate practitioner.
Can every sample be copied exactly?
No. Hand application creates natural movement and colour variation. Samples should define an agreed direction and tolerance rather than an identical repeated pattern.
Is it suitable outside?
Only where the full selected system is documented for the substrate and exposure. UV, water, temperature, drainage and maintenance requirements need to be checked.
How is it maintained?
Use the selected system supplier's compatible cleaning and maintenance instructions. Abrasive methods, unsuitable chemicals or unapproved recoats can change the finish.
Plan the finish
Share the substrate, location and look you want
Project photographs and a description of the current surface help identify whether a site assessment, sample and system-specific scope are needed.
